Malaysia’s Souper Tang arrives in Singapore

It offers Chinese herbal dishes.

Looking for a Chinese cuisine with a strong foundation in Chinese herbs? Look no further, a new restaurant called Souper Tang from Malaysia just opened their first international outpost in The Centrepoint on June 6.

According to Jarvin Leow, Business Development Manager of Souper Tang, the restaurant focuses on giving customers the full benefits of Chinese herbs while providing well-balanced meals that are elevated versions of their very own family recipes, thus debunking the myth that herbal dishes are “a bitter pill to swallow”.

The outlet in Singapore has a modern and stylish interior flanked with a custom-made wooden lattice that features chevron patterns reminiscent of the art-deco era. The intricately-panelled ceiling and inviting lanterns add a certain resort-like feel to the area, further highlighting the restaurant as an oasis for diners to have a fuss-free and revitalising meal.

Souper Tang is founded by Datin Sri Dato’ Cynthia Teh and her husband – a qualified TCM doctor. They both started out running their own medical hall in 1991 in Johor Bahru and over the years the Datin also became well-versed in the intricacies of Chinese medicine.

In 1995, the family diversified their medical hall business to include hamper services as they realised that customers enjoyed buying herbs as gifts for friends and family. This led to the creation of the YS Master Group – the parent company of Souper Tang. Datin Sri Cynthia would also brew nutritious soups for her staff daily out of concern for their wellbeing. Gradually, customers began asking her for advice on how to brew herbal soups at home and for tips on incorporating Chinese herbs in their cooking. Her knowledge and genial personality very much endeared her to the local community.

Souper Tang realised that there was a rising trend of people becoming more health conscious, who lacked the understanding of traditional Chinese herbs and its preparation techniques. The founders have a wealth of knowledge accumulated from their foundation medicinal hall background and their expertise in preventative medicine and routine care through herbal soup preparation. Souper Tang was thus created with this mission in mind.

Souper Tang draws from its specialisation by preparing well-balanced Chinese herbal meals to meet today’s consumer health needs while providing them with nourishing cuisine.

In 2009, a local shopping mall approached Datin Sri Dato’ Cynthia to open a restaurant on its premises serving soups. The family then expanded its selection to encompass simple mee suah (wheat noodle) dishes, and communal-style mains evident in the menu offerings today.

Moving forward, Souper Tang is always looking for opportunities to expand internationally and there are intentions to open more outlets in Singapore in the coming months.
Souper Tang also sells its own products in a retail corner located within the restaurant. Customers may purchase packaged items such as pre-packed herbs for soups, floral teas, bottled essence of chicken and bird’s nest with white fungus, canned seafood such as abalone, clam and topshell, as well as bottled wild honey, honey vinegar and apple vinegar.